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Synopsis
Francois is
a middle-aged antique dealer. He has a stylish apartment and
a fabulous life, but at a dinner with a group he considers
his dearest acquaintances, he is blindsided by the
revelation that none of them actually likes him. He's
arrogant, self-centered and harsh, and they don't believe he
knows the meaning of friendship. His business partner
Catherine makes him a bet: if he can produce his best
friend, she will let him keep the massive Greek vase he
acquired that afternoon on the company tab. If not, it's
hers.
Having accepted the wager, Francois naively tears through
his address book, trying to shoehorn an increasingly
unlikely series of contacts into the all-important role.
Moving through Paris, he keeps encountering a
trivia-spouting, big-hearted cabbie named Bruno. Bruno's
chatty, lowbrow ways grate against Francois's designer
temperament, but he covets the other man's easy way with
people. He convinces Bruno to teach him how to make friends
and sets about learning the "three S's" - being sociable,
smiling and sincere - though they don't come easy.
Ultimately, Francois victory will depend on Bruno's naivete
in playing along, but what's the cost of cheating at
friendship?
Patrice Leconte, one of France's most renowned
writer-directors, has often explored the theme of friendship
in his award-winning films including MAN ON THE TRAIN,
INTIMATE STRANGERS and THE HAIRDRESSER.
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